National Briefing / IOWA

Video prompts pig abuse inquiry

The Greene County sheriff is investigating alleged abuse of pigs at a factory farm, which was caught on video by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The video shows workers at the farm near Bayard hitting sows with metal rods, slamming piglets on a concrete floor and bragging about jamming rods into sows' hindquarters. Sheriff Tom Heater said PETA representatives had "provided us with what appears to be some really good information."

Asked if crimes had been committed, he responded, "It appears that there were, yes."